Idiopathic hypersomnia is a sleep disorder in which you're excessively sleepy during the day.

Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in sleep medicine have experience evaluating and treating people who have idiopathic hypersomnia and other sleep disorders. Each Mayo Clinic location offers a sleep disorders center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, staffed by specialists trained in treating sleep disorders.

Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in sleep medicine, including doctors trained in lung and breathing conditions (pulmonary medicine), mental health conditions (psychiatry), brain conditions (neurology) and other areas, work together to diagnose and treat people who have idiopathic hypersomnia and other sleep disorders.

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To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your symptoms, go over your family and medical history, and conduct a physical examination. Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose your condition, determine the cause of your condition and rule out other conditions.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Your doctor may ask you to rate your sleepiness with this test, to help determine how sleep affects your daily life.

Sleep diary. Your doctor may ask you to keep a sleep diary in which you log your daily sleep and wake times to help show your sleep amounts and pattern.

Multiple sleep latency test. This test measures your sleepiness and the types and stages of sleep you experience as you nap during the day. This test is generally conducted the day after a polysomnogram.

Your doctor will work with you to develop the most appropriate treatment to help manage your condition. Your treatment may include several options.

Lifestyle modifications. Your doctor may suggest that you make lifestyle changes, such as having a regular sleep schedule, avoiding driving while drowsy, or avoiding alcohol or medications that may affect your sleep.

Medications. Your doctor may prescribe stimulants to help you stay awake during the day.

Monitoring. Your doctor will monitor you over time to observe your condition and determine the effectiveness of lifestyle modifications and medications.

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 800-446-2279 (toll-free) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.

Mayo Clinic doctors and researchers study side effects of medications and potential treatment options for idiopathic hypersomnia and other sleep disorders. Learn more on the Center for Sleep Medicine research website.

See a list of publications by Mayo doctors on idiopathic hypersomnia on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

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